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DZMM Issues an APOLOGY to Cebu Pacific for IMAGINARY Airliner crash story

DZMM TeleRadyo issued an APOLOGY to Cebu Pacific aired over radio and television. The problem stemmed from a BREAKING NEWS story of an airliner crash in Barangay Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat province, Mindanao island. The report identified commercial airliner Cebu Pacific and indicated the flight path, Manila to General Santos City. The probable site of the crash was also specified as mentioned above. The Civil Aviation Authority denied the story and stated that commercial airliners were all accounted for. A few hours later, Cebu Pacific also issued a NO AIRLINER CRASH of its aircraft press release.

This is a CLASSIC EXAMPLE of IRRESPONSIBLE NEWS REPORTING as the concerned CAAP and Cebu Pacific officials were available for validation and confirmation of the story. Had DZMM withheld the release of the BREAKING NEWS by a few minutes, they could have contacted regulatory (CAAP) and corporate (Cebu Pacific) officials to CONFIRM or DENY the story. A confirmation would have cleared the story for airing while a denial would have called for further investigation and clarity on the supposed airliner crash (which turned out to be figment of the imagination).

With DZMM issuing an apology to Cebu Pacific, the public now DEMANDS to know

DZMM reported a Cebu Pacific airliner crash which never happened, a black eye in Philippine broadcasting history.

how the story was hatched, developed and ultimately aired. At a minimum, HEADS should roll in the DZMM news room.